Alameda County Biographies
CHARLES CARROLL WHEELER
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Was born in Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, June 17, 1834, and is the son of
Heber and Sarah B. (Pullon) Wheeler. Having resided at his birthplace until he
attained the age of nineteen years, during which time he attended school and
lived on a farm, in April, 1853, he launched forth to battle with the world. At
this period of his life Mr. Wheeler, in company with a sister, his
brother-in-law John W. Hilton, and a cousin, W. P. Wheeler, now a resident of
Oakland, sailed from New York for Australia, arriving in Melbourne about the
middle of August, 1853, and immediately proceeded to the mines, where he
remained for upwards of three years, and meeting with fair success. Upon the
expiration of that time he returned to his native place, but six months
subsequently, in November, 1856, he took passage to Panama on board the
Illinois, and on the Pacific side in the steamer John L. Stephens, and arrived
in San Francisco in the latter part of December. Four days later he proceeded
to the mines in Tuolumne County, and there remained five years, when, disposing
of his mining interests, he came to Alameda County, making the city of Fruit
Vale his home in April, 1862. He there embarked in an express business with C.
R. Stetson, between the towns of San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Alameda, Brooklyn,
and the city of San Francisco, which he followed until 1867, and in the fall of
that year selling out, he transferred his residence to Vacaville, Solano County,
where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. Between three and four years,
thereafter Mr. Wheeler transplanted his business to Healdsburg, Sonoma County,
and there resided until 1876. At this date, after an absence of twenty years,
he visited his birthplace, six months thereafter returning to California, taking
up his residence in Alameda County, and in January, 1877, leasing the Winsor
House, in Oakland, which he has since managed with much success, demonstrating
the fact that he can �keep a hotel.� The Winsor House is a first-class hotel,
and is located at the corner of Ninth and Washington Streets. Mr. Wheeler
married in Columbia, Tuolumne County, April 17, 1859, Miss A. G., daughter of
William Stetson, a native of Kingston, Massachusetts; and has three children,
viz.: William R., Charles S., Gertrude P.
History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 994